Martin Odegaard lifted the Premier League trophy following Arsenal’s 2-1 win over Crystal Palace. Gabriel Jesus and Noni Madueke fired Mikel Arteta’s side to victory at Selhurst Park on the final day of the season, crowning the Gunners as champions of England for the first time in 22 years.
As football.london reported on Saturday afternoon, following the full-time whistle, the Arsenal players returned to the dressing room to change into the home kit before receiving their winners’ medals and lifting the Premier League trophy. The backroom staff also returned to the dressing room to put on the third shirt.
While the Gunners prepared for the ceremony, Oliver Glasner bid farewell to the Crystal Palace supporters. At the start of the year, the Eagles boss confirmed he will leave the club at the end of the season.
After Steve Parish shared a few words, matchday staff began building the platform for the ceremony. Stan Kroenke and his son, Josh, later delivered the silverware, draped in red ribbons, onto the pitch and placed it on its podium.
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After the players received their medals, Odegaard lifted the trophy in front of the travelling fans and any remaining Crystal Palace supporters. As the Arsenal captain thrust the piece of silverware up into the air, Mikel Merino wrapped his arm around him.
David Raya, who wasn’t even named in the matchday squad to face the Eagles, was spotted wearing his goalkeeper gloves. Meanwhile, Ben White was seen wearing a knee brace as he continues to recover from an injury.
It didn’t take long until a member of the Arsenal backroom staff cracked open a bottle of champagne, showering the squad with alcohol. Arteta was eventually given the chance to present the trophy to the Gooners in the stands, twisting and turning before lifting it above his head.
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A few moments later, the Spaniard was the one being tossed about. Between the Arsenal squad and the backroom staff, Arteta was thrown up into the air to chants of ‘ole, ole, ole,’ by the fans.
The players then took turns lifting the Premier League trophy, posing for pictures with teammates and family on the pitch. Arsenal are back in action next week; on Saturday, May 30, the Gunners will lock horns with Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League final.
Speaking to reporters on Thursday afternoon, Mikel Arteta reflected on what has been a turbulent campaign. On beating Pep Guardiola and Manchester City to the Premier League title, the Arsenal boss said: “They’ve been a huge part of that journey, and Pep has been a huge part of that journey.
“First of all, because I started my coaching career with him, and then because not only Pep and Man City, but the other opponents as well in the league and all the colleagues that we have in the league.
“They continue to raise the standards to crazy levels in this league, and the only thing that it has provoked in myself, the players, the staff and the club is to be obligated to raise those levels and those standards to try to be better than that.
“Over the last few years, we’ve been very, very close, and this time, thankfully, we managed to win it,” added Arteta. On whether there was a moment he knew Arsenal would win the Premier League, Arteta said: “It’s been so many, and probably I need a bit more time to reflect on that.
“We have so much footage that will explain a little bit of the story of the season. One of the main ones was a meeting that we had here next to the tree, when I brought all the players together.
“I told them: ‘Look at each other, look at the squad that we built over the summer, we are capable of everything, and we can be very, very good. But it only depends on us and our behaviours, and everybody understanding the role that it’s going to have daily or on the day to give the best for the team.’
“Once they realised that, I think we went to a different level because you see the impact everyone has had on different games.
Turning his attention to this weekend, and then the Champions League final, Arteta said: “On Sunday, we’ll have a little window there again to celebrate, to lift the trophy in a manner that it deserves, to connect with the people who are constantly around us.
“But then we have six days that we need to write a new history in this football club…”
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